Exotické rostliny, Zdeněk Černoch, Větřkovice u Vítkova

Salicifolia Citrus aurantium L. Bigarádie

a foglia di salice, Abers, Aber's, Granito willowleaf, Narrow leaf, Willowleaf sour

'Abers Narrovleaf' is a variety bred and used in Italy in 18^th century. First written records however confirm its existence only in 19^th century (Gallesio, 1811, Citrus aurantium indium salicifolium; Risso et Poiteau, 1818, Bigaradier a feuilles de saule).

It's a vigorous tree with high yields and dense, wide crown formed by few partially overhanging branches. Typical characteristics of this variety are small, elongated, narrow leaves that are pointed on the tip. Leaves of 'Abers Narrovleaf' resemble those of willows. Flowers are solid white and the fruit is similar to that of ordinary Sour Oranges; it is spherical and has a distinctive neck. Yellow-orange, pebbled rind holds well on the amber yellow, soft, dry, bitter and sour pulp divided into 10 segments. It contains only a few seeds and the skin tends to crack, when the fruit hangs on the tree ripe for a long time. 'Abers Narrovleaf' can be propagated by seeds.

Bizzaria Citrus aurantium L. Bigarádie

Bizzariat, Bizzario, Forte, Melangolo

As its name suggests, this is a bizarre exemplar. Its fruit has genetic characteristics of typical Sour Oranges, but also few characteristics of citrons. According to Pietro Nati (1674), director of botanical garden in Pisa, it was discovered in 1644 in the garden of Marquise Panciatichi's villa (called also "Torre degli Agli" (tower with wings)). The fruit was also painted on the request of Mr. Baldassarre Franceschini (the man who named this variety) by the painter called Volterra (or Volterrano). Even after 3 centuries of exploration, its origin remains a mystery. The most probable theory seems to be the one describing it as chimera or a grafting cross, which arose as a bud mutation, after a citron variety was grafted on some Sour Orange. This mutation has characteristics of both citruses. Other botanists believe that it could be a cross of totally different plants or a seedling of Sour Orange pollinated by citrons.

'Bizzaria variegata' is not very vigorous tree that grows mostly vertically. It has strange, almost elliptic, deformed leaves, each with another shade of green and wings on the petioles. Its fruit is monstrous, pebbled and so is the deformed, yellow-green-orange rind. These colors are not mixed together, but are present in a form of various stripes.

'Bizzaria variegata' was considered lost in the beginning of the 20^th century, but then was found in the garden of Medicej villa in Castello. To ensure that this variety will not be lost forever, grafts were sent in 1955 to Boboli's gardens and Botanical garden in Florence. Nowadays it can be found also in other European gardens, including Villa de Castello in Florence, castle garden on the island Mainau. This variety was in the past also called "Cedrangolo Biccio dolce d.o. bizzarria".

Bouquet Citrus aurantium L. Bigarádie

Bouquet de Fleur, Bouquet de Fleurs, Bouquet des Fleurs, Bouquetier à fruits durs, Bouquetier à gros fruits, Bouquetier à peau épaisse, Bouquetier de Nice à grandes fleurs

'Bouquet de Fleurs' belongs to bitter varieties used in perfumes and exceptionally beautifully and decoratively flowering ones (mostly in California).

It resembles a big, wide shrub with thornless branches and short internodes with lots of small, curly, dark green and oval leaves rounded at the tip. Petioles have small, yet visible wings. Its flowers grow usually in clusters and that's why it's called 'Bouquet de Fleurs' (bouquet of flowers). Fruit is medium-sized (6-7,5 cm), flattened, oblong and well colored. It grows and ripens in clusters as well. The dark orange rind of this variety is rather thin (3mm), tightly attached to the orange, thick, very aromatic pulp divided into 10 segments with few or no seeds. It's suitable for growing in pots, but requires lots of space. It was used in perfume industry in 17^th century and according to B. Vosse it can be the same variety as 'Crispifolia'.

Bouquetier de Nice à fleurs doubles Citrus aurantium L. Bigarádie

à fleurs demi-grosses de Lucchi, à fleurs doubles, Bouquet de Nice, Bouquetier à fruits fétifères, Bouquetier de Nice, Bouquetier de
Nice à fruits plats, Duplex, François 1er, Grand Bourbon, Grand Condé, Grand Connétable, Grand Louis, Hoja ancha

'Bouquetier de Nice a fleurs doubles' is a variety that belongs to a group of Sour Oranges with large flowers. It originates in Spain and was already known in 1421.

It's a small, thornless, not very vigorous tree with quite large and broad leaves that are slightly pointed at the tip. This variety's typical characteristic are large, individually growing flowers with duplex flower leafs and big pistil. Flattened fruit is duplex as well. Each individual piece of the fruit contains another ripe and fully mature fruit inside the primary fruit.

This fruit can be preserved in jars or used in cakes. It is of great importance to perfume industry; its plentiful flowers have been used as a perfume additive since the beginning of the 17^th century. Italians call this variety 'Duplex'.

Castello Mutazione Citrus aurantium L. Bigarádie

Italian variety that is probably some sport found in the gardens in Castello.

Consolei Citrus aurantium L. Bigarádie

Aranzo incanellato, Aranzo Melonato, Canaliculata

'Consolei' is a historical decorative variety. It has thick fruit with lots of ridges in the orange rind and contains average amount of seeds - not too big and not too small. J. Ch. Volkamer called this variety also 'Aranzo Melonato' or 'Aranzo incanellato' because of the curves and ridges that occur on certain watermelon varieties too. Bimbi's paintings showed fruit of this variety on many occasions ("Arancia a fette di mellone" and "Arancio detto scannellato della China"). It resembles the variety called 'Bizzaria'.

Corniculata Citrus aurantium L. Bigarádie
Cornicule, Cornuto, de Grasse

'Corniculata' is an ancient variety known in Italy already in the 17^th century. This tree has the same habit as other Sour Oranges, but it's special for its bizarre fruit. Another specialty of this cultivar are its incredibly high yields and also the fact that 'Corniculata' grows more horizontally than vertically. Bizarre looking fruit is even stranger in many cases, because it's not very rare to see small horns on the fruit (that's the origin of the variety's name). Its rind is in full ripeness intensively orange and 'Corniculata' was in past called also "Mali Aurantii Hermaphroditi sive corniculati" (Ferrari), "Aranzo cornuto e Hermaphrodito"
(J. Ch. Volkamer), "Aranzo dal Deo" around the Lago Di Garda lake and "Closterapfel" in the Netherlands. Its clone, 'de Grasse', originates in France.

Virgatum Citrus aurantium L. Bigarádie

Arancio svizzero, Aranzo fiamato, Fasciata, Virgolaro

'Fasciata' belongs to famous historical Italian varieties. The first records about this cultivar come from the year 1500, when Bimbi described a tree in the collection of Medicej garden: "Arancio virgolaro, bello e nuovo" (striped, beautiful and new orange tree). Agostino Del Riccio described in his "Trattato di Agricoltura" from 1595 fruit that had typical combination of long, narrow green and orange stripes (similar to the coats of German mercenaries, who protected the Medicej family then). You can also encounter the term 'Arancio svizzero' (Swiss orange), because the ripe fruit of this variety resembled the trousers of Swiss Guard in Vatican. Thanks to that it also got its nickname "braghe tedesche" (German mercenary trousers). Ever since the times of Ferrari, references about this cultivar can be found in almost any publication about citruses. J. Chr. Volkamer named this variety 'Aranzo fiamato' and quotes from the publication "Nederlantz Hesperides" by J. Commelyna (Amsterdam, 1676), where it is described as: "Aurantium variegatuma Ferrari" or "Aurantium virgatum" and more from that publication: "...as soon as the fruit appears, it's possible to distinguish the yellow and green stripes, but as the fruit ripens, colors slightly change, from yellow to orange and from green to white-yellow. It's a pleasure for eye to watch this tree's fruit slowly ripen..."

'Fasciata' requires very similar climate than other Sour Oranges, but is slightly smaller in all dimensions than other cultivars. Usually only few leaves are variegated along the veins and most of them are green. The fruit is medium-sized, variegated and the rind is striped too (green and yellow stripes, when the fruit ripens, stripes change to yellow and orange). The fruit's pericarp also seems very plastic.

'Fasciata' is nowadays mostly a decorative variety, it's not cultivated for food, but thanks to its beautiful fruit soon became a "must have plant" for many collectors and growers.

Horridus Citrus aurantium L. Bigarádie

'Horidus' is a decorative variety with attractive fruit and orange, sectioned rind with occasionally outgrowing rind tissue.

Turcicum Salicifolia Citrus aurantium L. Bigarádie

Arancio turco, Listata, Oranger turc, Turco, Turco a foglia di salice variegato

'Listata' is a decorative variety known already on the end of the 17^th century and recorded by Bimbi. It's supposedly a mutation of another variety - 'Salicifolia' - that originates in Turkey. J. Ch. Volkamer referred to it as "Aranzo rigato con foglia stretta" and B. Bimbi as "Arancio turco". Risso and Poiteau described it as 'Arancio turco' and 'Oranger turc'. It is often mistaken for another cultivar in publications and literature, usually for the old cultivar called "virgolaro" ('Virgatum') or variegated Sour Orange 'Foliis variegatis'. It can be easily distinguished from the latter, mainly thanks to its long and narrow leaves.

'Listata' is not a very tall tree resembling a larger shrub with its growing habit. It has asymmetric crown and its leaves resemble those of willow; they are small and usually have more than one color in the leaves. White blossoms are very fragrant. 'Listata' fruit is rather average, spherical, flattened on the poles and has typical, light yellow rind with stripes (green on unripe and orange on ripe fruit).

Seville Citrus aurantium L. Bigarádie

Bitter Seville, Daidai, Englische, Malaga Bitter, Rough Seville, Sevilhana, Sevillano, Sevillano 4n, Smooth Flat Seville, Smooth Seville, Spanish sour, Taitai

'Sevilano' originates in Spain, where it is a very popular form of Sour Orange. It's an average, robust tree with very thin spikes that resembles orange trees. It's planted in the front yards and streets (warmer areas). 'Sevilano' can be slightly frost tolerant under certain conditions, it can withstand drought, but is susceptible to tristeza and root rotting. It can be easily distinguished from orange trees by its leaves, which are much darker and have wider petioles with larger wings. Also if you crush the leaves, they have excellent aroma (pressed leaves are processed into oil - petitgrain). Young shoots usually also have darker, more asystematically placed pores on the bark. Seedlings and leaves of this variety are extremely variable and vary in most of the characteristics. 'Sevilano' has large, fragrant flowers and medium-sized (6-7cm) fruit, which can however under certain circumstances be much bigger, flattened with thicker rind and ridges above essential oils spores. The pulp is in general amber yellow, quite soft and tastes like an orange with a hint of bitterness and sourness (too sour and bitter for direct consumption). 11 segments are divided by thick membranes and contain lots of seeds.

The fruit of 'Sevilano' ripens usually from January to February, but it can hang on the tree another 10 months. It is used for further processing in Spain and England, mostly as bitter additive to the marmalades. This Sour Orange cultivar is one of only few citruses that don't have to be grafted in order to harvest quality fruit, seedlings usually start fruiting very early. 'Sevilano' has many clones, they are different only in the amount of thorns, yields and growth speed. It is still used as a rootstock in Florida, where it remains the 3^rd most popular rootstock (right after citrumelo 'Swingle' and citrange 'Carrizo'). It isn't advised to use this variety as a rootstock in other places, the yields of grafted varieties are usually significantly lower and a rootstock-graft incompatibility can occur later in the plants development and growth. It's mostly used for oranges and grapefruits, and even then when there's no other choice.

Australian clone called 'Smooth Seville' ('Smooth Flat Seville') is so similar to oranges, that many botanists consider it to be a cross of grapefruit and orange. It resembles tangelo 'Poorman' and shares its temperature requirements for the fruit ripening. There are also certain similarities with 'Gou Tou', mainly because of its resistance to tristeza and clogged soils. Clone 'Malaga Bitter' ripens slightly earlier, yet still tastes the same. It is called 'Daidai' in Japan, where it is used both as a decorative plant and spices. Chinese know this variety as 'Taitai'. They eat the fruit either fresh or dried and use the flowers in tea.

Standart sour orange Citrus aurantium L. Bigarádie

Standart sevile

'Standart sour orange' originates in the USA. It is a robust tree with medium-sized (6,5-7cm), flattened fruit that has fallen base area. Orange rind is quite grainy and thick; it's well attached to the light orange pulp divided into 10 segments with lots of seeds. This variety is widely used as rootstock. It's sometimes referred to as the clone of 'Seville'.

Virgatum Citrus aurantium L. Bigarádie

Arancio svizzero, Aranzo fiamato, Fasciata, Virgolaro

'Fasciata' belongs to famous historical Italian varieties. The first records about this cultivar come from the year 1500, when Bimbi described a tree in the collection of Medicej garden: "Arancio virgolaro, bello e nuovo" (striped, beautiful and new orange tree). Agostino Del Riccio described in his "Trattato di Agricoltura" from 1595 fruit that had typical combination of long, narrow green and orange stripes (similar to the coats of German mercenaries, who protected the Medicej family then). You can also encounter the term 'Arancio svizzero' (Swiss orange), because the ripe fruit of this variety resembled the trousers of Swiss Guard in Vatican. Thanks to that it also got its nickname "braghe tedesche" (German mercenary trousers). Ever since the times of Ferrari, references about this cultivar can be found in almost any publication about citruses. J. Chr. Volkamer named this variety 'Aranzo fiamato' and quotes from the publication "Nederlantz Hesperides" by J. Commelyna (Amsterdam, 1676), where it is described as: "Aurantium variegatuma Ferrari" or "Aurantium virgatum" and more from that publication: "...as soon as the fruit appears, it's possible to distinguish the yellow and green stripes, but as the fruit ripens, colors slightly change, from yellow to orange and from green to white-yellow. It's a pleasure for eye to watch this tree's fruit slowly ripen..."

'Fasciata' requires very similar climate than other Sour Oranges, but is slightly smaller in all dimensions than other cultivars. Usually only few leaves are variegated along the veins and most of them are green. The fruit is medium-sized, variegated and the rind is striped too (green and yellow stripes, when the fruit ripens, stripes change to yellow and orange). The fruit's pericarp also seems very plastic.

'Fasciata' is nowadays mostly a decorative variety, it's not cultivated for food, but thanks to its beautiful fruit soon became a "must have plant" for many collectors and growers.